79R1725 SMH-F

By:  Armbrister                                                   S.B. No. 575



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to notice to surface owners of oil and gas exploration and 
production operations.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 91, Natural Resources Code, is amended 
by adding Subchapter P to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER P.  NOTICE OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION 
OPERATIONS
	Sec. 91.701.  NOTICE REQUIRED.  (a)  An oil and gas developer 
shall give each surface owner written notice of the oil and gas 
exploration and production operations contemplated by the oil and 
gas developer not less than 30 days before the date the operations 
begin.
	(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), if the oil and gas 
developer plans to begin oil and gas exploration and production 
operations less than 30 days before the date the oil and gas lease 
terminates, the notice may be given at any time before the oil and 
gas exploration and production operations begin.
	Sec. 91.702.  ADDRESS FOR NOTICE.  The notice must be given 
to each surface owner at the surface owner's address as shown by the 
records of the county clerk or county tax assessor-collector at the 
time the notice is given.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to oil and gas exploration and production operations that begin on 
or after October 1, 2005.  Oil and gas exploration and production 
operations that begin before October 1, 2005, are governed by the 
law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, 
and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.